Doha, March 20 (QNA) – Qatar Aluminum Company (Qatalum) is to launch on April 12, its aluminum melting plant in Mesaeed Industrial city. Qatalum announced on Saturday that preprations are underway for a new historical era that ushurs a new industrial sector via aluminum . In a press release issued by Qatalum , H.E. Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah who is also the Board Chairman of Qatar Petroleum (QP) , said that the new plant would play an effective role for applying the development related strategies in Qatar since its inauguration coincides with the vision of H.H. The Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani for the optimal exploitation of Qatar”s natural resources and achieving the cherished economic diversity . H.E. Al Attiyah congratulated Qatalum for such a remarkable and mammoth accomplishment which is expected to render success and pioneering in service of the homeland and the citizen alike. Highly evaluating the strenuous and faithful national efforts exerted to bring such a plant to light, H.E. the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry said the project will provide more than 20,000 labour opportunities and more than 1000 permanent jobs inside the local community in Mesaeed Industrial city. Elaborating H.E. the deputy premier said that Qatalum is expected to support the national gross domestic product (GDP) by about $ 1.5 billion annually. The anticipated project ,which is expected to gain worldwide welcome on part of the industrial sector locally, regionally and worldly, reflects the due attention of the government under the wise leadership of H.H. The Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and giving prominence to its tireless roles for promoting and boosting the industrial sector in the country and upgrading it to the worldwide industrial event. Such a qatari leadership”s support would further shift such a vital project from the stage of participation to competitiveness to relaunching more effectively for drawing the new industrial panorama of Qatar on the global industrial chart in view of possessing three distinctive potentials , first of them is the natural gas mammoth reserves, second the industrial infrastructure and third the market flexibility between Europe and Asia.
Qatalum the joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro of Norway, will begin producing 585,000 tonnes of aluminium products per annum by December 2010. Since beginning production in December 2009, Qatar Aluminum Company /Qatalum/ has been invigorating its production pots at the rate of 2.2 tonnes per day and has now attained a capacity of 139 tonnes, Haugan said. “Capacity today is not really an issue for us now. We are gradually ramping up our production,” he said adding that the company has identified market potential particularly in Asia. “Hydro is doing the marketing for us. We have established a marketing office in Singapore. We plan to export to destinations such as the Philippines, Malaysia and emerging markets like Asia and the Middle East,” he said. “We will also be exporting to Japan. Our products find usage in its car industry,” Haugan said. Qatalum is sourcing alumina for its plant from Brazil and from Western Australia. “We have a marketing agreement with Hydro Aluminium and 100 per cent of our metals will be marketed by them. Hydro has a substantial market share in Europe but is now growing in Asia as well.” The firm plans to produce aluminium foundry alloys that go into the castings used in the automobile industry and extrusion ingots which find a use in construction materials like window frames, Haugan said. Assurance of permanent gas supply from a country such as Qatar, has helped the company, he said. “When you have assurance of gas supply you do use it to produce the necessary power,” he said. “As far as profitability is concerned it depends on the productivity of the company. That”s how you compete with the best,” he said. Qatalum has one of the largest production plants in the world and potlines, which production units are about 1.2km long. Its facilities include a carbon plant, a captive power plant and a storage facility.
The press release pointed out that “Qatalum” has taken other supportive steps to help increase efficiency and simplify the production process through the inclusion of a separate port and storage areas located near to its facilities, adding that such specialized techniques as well as the site”s integration would enable “Qatalum” to be one of the leading aluminum production companies that gains effectivity and environmentally friendly worldwide. The statement quoted the Qatalum CEO, Jan Arve Haugan Qatar as saying that the Aluminum company”s dedication to achieve sustainability and environmental safety, together with the operational performance and advanced technology puts “Qatar Aluminum /Qatalum/ in the forefront of the leading aluminum industry”s companies in the region. The Aluminum Qatar on 18 December last year began to export its first shipment of aluminum alloys, which highlights the strategic importance of its multi-use, and carrying out a major role in the auto industry, and products used in the building and construction field , transportation and general engineering, household products, recreational, and many of Products entered into by a major factor or sub-assistant, which raises the value-added economic activity prominently. The Aluminum Company of Qatar was founded in 2006, a joint venture equally between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro of Norway, the company has a workforce of several nationalities from 34 different nationalities, enjoying efficient and high technical expertise, and seeks to achieve the industrial diversification of Qatar and its people through the relentless pursuit to create the future of preserving the environment and provide economic opportunities.(QNA)